Movie Review – Robot & Frank

A fair new world

One of the biggest let downs of a Sci-Fi movie, especially the ones which deals with the robots are, it trying to humanize them. It’s as if like it’s a compulsion like how characters interchange in a double action film. What ‘Robot & Frank’ does exceedingly well is that it doesn’t fall into that trap. The Robot remains robot and humans are human. It’s a world where they both coexist and the Robots look part of environment. That’s the most organic way of making a Sci-Fi movie, where nothing looks superficial. With just that one thing done right, the film feels, for the sake of better word ‘proper’.

The initial vibes of the film were like that of ‘Android Kunjappan Ver 5.25’ so I was ready to be disappointed. It’s always the first film which you watch works. Plus as it was an Indian film, we obviously would connect with it better but ‘Robot & Frank’ took me by surprise. Except for the fact that both the films had a robot and an old man, there wasn’t anything in common. In case if ‘Android Kunjappan Ver 5.25’ had really been inspired from ‘Robot & Frank’, it had to be appreciated for taking an idea and superbly making it rooted.

‘Robot & Frank’ starts with an irritable old man Frank Weld (Frank Langella) with losing memory trying to live life his way. His son who wants to “help” him, gives a robot. Initially they don’t gel well but he understands that the Robot doesn’t have any feelings and that makes them a team. The dehumanizing part that I talked about earlier, it was taken so seriously that even the robot doesn’t have a name and how often does it happen. Even the title which I found to be quite ordinary, was actually an intelligent one because it talks about two individuals who are like equals and nothing special about anyone. That was classic.

Another beautiful thing about the film was that the characters were so real and not really lovable. They’re humans with varied emotions. A sort of disoriented family but that doesn’t really spurt out as something odd. They’re not judged for what they are. That’s how true the writing was. Even the twist when he knows about his wife, works. It takes you by surprise but there is no grandeur to it. In fact, it’s how the entire movie evolves.

For a movie like this, eventually it’s the chemistry between the lead characters or the bromance, is what really matters. It was not overdone and feels just about right. There were a couple of scenes in the movie where the Robot takes advantage. First, trying to guilt trip him and the final one where it tries to make him erase his memory. Even though the Robot was not humanized, it makes you fall for it. You can’t help but get attached to it. Finally when the Frank switches off the robot, it ends up in a hugging position, oh what a great moment it was.

Even though Frank doesn’t really come out as a nice guy. He appears to be an original. Someone whom we vouch for despite knowing the fact that he’s not morally right. Its characters like these who feel real. He doesn’t shy away from shooing off his daughter, who wants to again “help” him like his brother. Normally in any other film, this self-love would have been either glorified or showcased as something villainous, here it’s happens matter of factly.

Also he being a burglar or may be a kleptomaniac, he plays the tricks well and makes his character lovable. It’s not a traditional Anthony Hopkins type of movie which gives you a great high but something which you want to shout out loud but you can’t, because of the way it was treated. There was a specific scene where the police comes to check on him due to the burglary and he acts so cool. That could have been easily made a mass scene with a strong BGM but it doesn’t, it appears to be so casual and ends up being uber cool.

Movie Review – Orphan

A sweet little thriller

Wonder how and why, this film isn’t not much talked about. In spite of not being a horror fan, this film scared the shit out of me as well as made me watch it in awe due to its ingenuine writing and brilliant acting. It was much better than the movies which even not core horror fans would like, yet had the thrill which typical horror fan would like to indulge.

In fact, what started as a film for indulgence became an inspiration altogether thanks to the eclectic filmmaking. Without reason, the title grabs the attention and keeps you hooked. Even before the end of the title I was feeling how wonderful it would have been if I had watched it in theatre. It’s not only because it’d have been more thrilling and scarier if I had watched in theatre but its like a mark of respect that it was not a film with just cheap thrills and jump scare. In fact, I’m not really against jump scare but I don’t like it when the film tries to be pretentious and masks itself being an intelligent movie without using jump scares. Jump scares work when you come to watch a horror movie as if taking a ride in amusement park so the expectations had to be set right and see what could be done in certain formula.

After the titles the opening sequences are truly horrific and gory but it’s a dream, obviously, but a well made one that. Followed by it was one of the best preludes before it becomes a horror movie. Be it the characters, their profession, family etc. That ten to fifteen-minute bit can be separately watched as a feel-good short film because its so ingenuine and feels really as the ‘feel good’ tag.

Because of the poster we get to know that the sweet little thing from the orphanage is the one who’s going to bring in chaos. That couldn’t help us but stop and admire her beauty. Even though she’s a little one, its not that the cuteness which attracts first but the sheer beauty like how the princess possess (someone like Madhubala). So, when she’s called a little princess by Sister Abigail (C. C. H. Pounder) we can’t help but agree. A pure Russian beauty as per the film bio, no matter where she was originally from.

Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman) enters the house of Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Sarsgaard) and immediately bonds with Max (Aryana Engineer) but Danny (Jimmy Bennett) detests Esther. So, in all the formula gets clear and the initial few days in the house is a breeze. Things start going awry when she seems Kate and John ‘fuck’ and doesn’t give a fuck about it. Sex scenes are integral part of horror movies but it was better than a random ghost seeing you make out. In fact, it was nice to know that Esther wasn’t a ghost at first place, a reason why I didn’t watch the movie all this time.

Things start getting escalated with other activities where she slowly plots to finish off people whom she doesn’t like. Instead of seeing her as a kid who needs help, we get to know that she had come from mental asylum and that makes an interesting choice. The way she manipulates was brilliant, it was ‘Gone Girl’ level crazy but done by a pretty little thing, so that’s an icing on the cake. On the other hand, the way her history was not revealed right away was really well written, it wasn’t like they intentionally tried to split it up to keep the thrill. The events which happens in the middle so that Kate doesn’t get the complete information was superbly made.

It wasn’t an all sweet climax as well. It explodes superbly and ends with a little bit of disarray where loses happen but not entirely gory and depressing so that it becomes all plasticky. News is that there is going to be a prequel to it titled, Esther. Generally, its not a good idea to fiddle with horror film but knowing the twist of the film, it could be a great material because there is lot of scope to make a prequel with such kind of story.